Race Reports

Normans Law 2018 - Margaret Gamble

This race was a chance to get off road and ‘enjoy’ a scenic trail run up and down Norman’s Law. Organised each year by Fife AC, the race starts by the cow sheds in the pretty village of Luthrie. Encouraged by the fact that the race was advertised as a hill race suitable for novice hill runners I and 23 other DRRs took part out of a total number of 185 runners.

After a quick and efficient registration and a brief explanation of the route - ie find your own way up and down but dire warnings about entering certain fields containing livestock we were off at a rapid pace along a straight flat single track road - so far so good! A sharp left took us to the first path, climbing stea

dily upwards along a stony bridleway. Terrain was as you would expect and leg sapping but luckily not too muddy. After about 2 km the path descended - um, not quite as nice as you would think as very soon the grassy slopes of Norman’s Law towered above us and the only way forward was UP.....Navigating was not an issue as we soon all fell into a long single file and as running became impossible it turned into the fastest hike up a hill I have ever done! Gasping at the top by the Cairn I was looking forward to admiring the views but as at least 20 runners leapt past hurtling down the other side I decided I had better get a move on. Running downhill is hard - my brain insisted on firmly applying the brakes and I could only admire others as they tiptoed down the slope at alarming speeds. Some runners cut off a corner quite legitimately but I decided to stay with the majority and enjoy the run back along the path eventually joining the outward straight stretch and finish at the cow sheds.

A brilliant little race, exhausting, fun and a great introduction to hill running. Can thoroughly recommend it.